Selective addressing machine for preparing a list of selected addresses from a group of master cards

ABSTRACT

A machine for preparing a list of selected addresses on an elongate master tape from a group of master cards each carrying a visible address and machine information pertaining to the address, the machine having an imaging station, a mechanism for sequentially advancing each of the group of master cards to the imaging station, a mechanism for advancing the master tape in sequential fixed increments to the imaging station, imaging means at the imaging station, a device for sensing machine information on each advanced master card for selecting at least some of the master cards from the advancing master cards and operating the imaging means only when a selected master card is at the imaging station to establish upon the master tape an image of the address carried by the selected master card. Each selected master card is momentarily halted at the imaging station with the address carried thereby juxtaposed with a stationary increment of the master tape and the master tape is advanced from the imaging station after each operation of the imaging means. Also disclosed is a novel arrangement for the advancement of tape through the machine and a novel arrangement for the advancement and sorting of the cards passing through the machine.

United States Patent Appl. No. 759,533

Filed Sept. 12, I968 Patented July 27, 197] Assignee Dytno Industries,inc.

Emeryvllle, Calif.

SELECTIVE ADDRESSING MACHINE FOR PREPARING A LIST OF SELECTED ADDRESSESFROM A GROUP OF MASTER CARDS 38 Claims, 26 Drawing Figs.

52 11.5. CI 250/65, 101/47, 209/110, 250/219 [51] IIILCI -B30b15/30 [50)Field oIsfll'dl 250/651, 2|9 L; 101/47, 50, as; 209/l I0 [56] ReferencesCited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,838,175 6/1958 Lakeetal 209/110 2,995,2408/1961 Cunningham el al.. 209/1 10 3,044,395 7/1962 Ackell et 101/653,259,330 7/1966 Baybick ct 3.1. 250/219 L 3,400,895 9/1968 C016 6181250/219 L cmzo FT! HOLDlI-/ l I seasma chum awnucmq new uwrm 60oe'reeron an s FOREIGN PATENTS 691,304 7/1964 Canada ABSTRACT: A machinefor preparing a list of selected ad drems on an elongate master tapefrom a group of master cards each carrying a visible address and machineinfonnation pertaining to the address, the machine having an imagingstation, a mechanism for sequentially advancing each of the group ofmaster cards to the imaging station, a mechanism for advancing themaster tape in sequential fixed increments to the imaging station,imaging means at the imaging station, a device for sensing machineinformation on each advanced master card for selecting at least some ofthe master cards from the advancing master cards and operating theimaging means only when a selected master card is at the imaging stationto establish upon the master tape an image of the address carried by theselected master card. Each selected master card is momentarily halted atthe imaging station with the address carried thereby juxtaposed with astationary increment of the master tape and the master tape is advancedfrom the imaging station after each operation of the imaging means. Alsodisclosed is a novel arrangement for the advancement of tape through themachine and a novel arrangement for the advancement and sorting of thecards passing through the machine.

CHRD TRHHSPORT MERNS s'ronaee COHNRTMENT APPLYING MEANS FIG. I.

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INVENTORS HTTORI SELECTIVE ADDRESSING MACHINE FOR PREPARING A LIST OFSELECTED ADDRESSES FROM A GROUP OF MASTER CARDS The present inventionrelates generally to addressing machines and pertains, morespecifically, to an addressing machine in which a list of selectedaddresses is prepared on an elongate master tape from a group of mastercards carrying machine information and visible addresses, the machinebeing capable of sensing the machine information on each card todetermine whether or not the address carried by that card should appearon the tape.

The current increase in the number of mailings performed by variouslarge scale mailing organizations such as publishers, mail orderconcerns and other large volume users of the mails, and the need for thedevelopment of lengthy, well-organized mailing lists from whichspecified addresses may be selected in accordance with any of a varietyof common characteristics of such addresses has led to the requirementfor more effective machines for composing lists of such specifiedaddresses as well as printing such lists on items to be mailed. Thus, itwould be advantageous to have available a machine which could prepare alist of addresses chosen from a larger group of addresses in accordancewith common characteristics such as those pertaining to the names ofaddressees, occupations of addressees, geographical locations, and likedata.

Addressing machines are currently available which accept lists ofaddresses printed on an elongate tape and which transfer such addressesonto envelopes or other mailing pieces, or onto mailing labels. Amongthat type of addressing machine are machines which accept a heattransfer tape hav ing addresses printed thereon of heat transferablematerial and which employ heat to transfer the addresses.

It is an important object of the invention to provide a machine whichemploys master cards carrying addresses and machine informationpertaining to the addresses and utilizes the machine information toselect a plurality of cards from those cards supplied to the machine andto create an image of the addresses carried by the selected cards on amaster tape to establish a list of selected addremes on the tape. Themaster cards are preferably tab cards which are punched to establishmachine information relating to the particular address carried by thecard, and the address is in the form of a visible address appearing on aportion of the card.

Another object of the invention is to provide an exceptionally highspeed machine for preparing a printed list of selected addresses forsubsequent use in an addressing machine from a group of master addresscards, each such card carrying a visible address and machine informationpertaining to the address.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a machine forcreating a list of selected addresses from a larger group of addresses,the list being provided on a heat transfer tape. Preferably, the addressis printed on the tape in reverse image and is of a material capable ofbeing directly imprinted onto envelopes or other mailing pieces ortransferred to address labels.

A further object of the invention is to provide a machine of the typedescribed above wherein the visible address of each master card is inthe form of characters of infrared absorbing material and the cardcarries vaporizable material in the area of the characters, and whereinthe master tape is transparent to infrared radiation so that a latentimage of the address car ried on a selected card may be created upon thetape by exposing juxtaposed areas of the card and the tape to infraredradiation and vaporizing some of the vaporizable material to depositsuch vaporized material upon the tape surface and wherein a toner issubsequently applied to the material in the latent image to establish avisible image on the tape.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a machine of thetype described above and which utilizes master cards of the typecompatible with current electronic data processing equipment employingpunched tab cards of known configuration. i

Another object of the invention is to provide tape handling systems forincrementally advancing the master tape through the machine, accuratelylocating the increments of advanced tape with respect to variousstations in the machine and col lecting the completed tape, and foraccomplishing such handling without excessive stresses placed on thetape, in deference to the relatively delicate nature of the master tape.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a machine of thetype described above in which the maximum speed of processing every cardof the entire group of master cards, from which are selected only aplurality of cards whose addresses are to be printed on the master tape,is not limited by the speed at which each selected card can beprocessed. Thus, although the rate of advance of the cards passingthrough the machine must be slowed each time an address is extractedfrom a selected card, the rate of advance is not slowed when no addressis extracted, thereby increasing the overall speed of processing theentire group of cards.

A further object of the invention is to provide a mechanism for sortingthe cards as the cards are advanced through the machine.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a card transportmechanism which allows easy, selective access to the path of travel ofthe cards as they pass through the machine, ease in removing any cardswhich may become jammed within the card transport mechanism and for easeof maintenance.

The above objects, as well as further objects and advantages, areattained by the invention which may be described briefly as a machinefor preparing a list of selected addresses on an elongate master tapefrom a group of master cards, each carrying a visible address andmachine information pertaining to the address, a selected plurality ofwhich master cards carry the selected addresses, the machine comprisinga frame, means for holding the group of master cards, means for holdinga supply of master tape, an imaging station on the frame, means on theframe for sequentially advancing each of the group of master cards alonga path of travel from the master card holding means to the imagingstation, means on the frame for advancing the master tape from themaster tape supply to the imaging station, the master tape advancingmeans including intermittent tape feed means for sequentially providingstationary fixed increments of the master tape at the imaging station,imaging means at the imaging station, sensing means on the frame at asensing station for sensing the machine information carried by eachadvanced master card, selector means on the frame and responsive to thesensing means for determining when each one of the plurality of selectedmaster cards is at the sensing station, means on the frame and operatedin timed relationship with the travel of the master cards formomentarily halting at least each selected master card in a prescribedposition at the imaging station with the address carried therebyjuxtaposed with a stationary increment of the master tape at the imagingstation, means responsive to the travel of the one selected master cardalong the path of travel and operated in timed relationship with themaster card halting means for operating the imaging means and theintermittent tape feed means only when the one selected master card isin the prescribed position to establish upon the juxtaposed increment ofmaster tape an image of the address carried by the selected master cardand for operating the intermittent feed means to advance the master taperelative to the imaging station through one complete fixed increment foreach such operation of the imaging means. The image established upon themaster tape by the imaging means is a latent image and the machineincludes means for subsequently converting the latent images soestablished into a visible list of selected addresses upon the mastertape. the address carried by each master card is comprised of charactersof infrared absorbing material and the master card carries vaporizablematerial in the area of the characters, the master tape is transparentto infrared radiation, the imaging means includes a source of infraredradiation, each halted master card is juxtaposed with the increment ofmaster tape at the imaging station such that the increment of mastertape lies between at least the portion of the master card carrying theaddress and the source of infrared radiation with the characters of theaddress facing the master tape, the means for operating the imagingmeans operates the source of infrared radiation to vaporize from themaster card a portion of the vaporizable material from areascorresponding to the characters of the address and to deposit thevaporized material onto the surface of the juxtaposed increment ofmaster tape to establish the latent image, and the means for convertingthe latent images to a visible list of selected addresses includes meanson the frame for applying a toner to the surface of the master tape soas to adhere toner to the vaporizable material deposited thereon inareas corresponding to the characters of the addresses, and means foradvancing the master tape through the toner applying means. The machinefurther includes means for fusing the toner while in place upon themaster tape.

The invention will be more fully understood, and still further objectsand advantages will be related in the following detailed description ofan embodiment of the invention illustrated in the accompanying drawing,in which;

FIG. I is a plan view of a machine constructed in ac cordance with theinvention;

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the machine;

FIG. 3 is a rear elevational view of the machine;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of a master card employed in the machine;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of a portion of the master tape employed in themachine;

FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the path of travel of mastercards and master tape through the machine;

FIG. 7 is a diagrammatic pictorial view of a master card jux taposedwith a portion of the master tape at the imaging station of the machine;

FIG 8 is an enlarged plan view of a portion of the machine at theimaging station;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 9-9 of FIG. 8;

FIG. I0 is an enlarged plan view of a portion of the master tapeadvancing mechanism of the machine;

FIG. 11 is a further enlarged cross-sectional view of a portion of themaster tape advancing mechanism;

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 12-12 of FIG. I];

FIG. 13 is an enlarged elevational view of the tape punching mechanismof the machine;

FIG. I4 is an enlarged end view, partially sectioned, illus trating thetoner applying mechanism ofthe machine;

FIG. 15 is a front elevational view, partially sectioned, of the tonersupply;

FIG. 16 is an end elevational view of a brake mechanism for the mastertape;

FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 17-17 of FIG. 16;

FIG. I8 is an enlarged elevations] view, partially sectioned, of atakeup mechanism for the master tape;

FIG. I9 is a cross-sectional view taken along line I9-I9 of FIG. III;

FIG. 20 is an enlarged plan view of the master card feed mechanism ofthe machine;

FIG. 21 is an end elevational vie of the card feed mechanism;

FIG. 22 is a front elcvational view of the card feed mechanism;

FIG. 23 is an enlarged front elevational view of a portion of thetransport mechanism for the master card;

FIG. 24 is an enlarged front elevational view, partially diagrammatic,of a sorting mechanism for the master cards;

FIG. 25 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken along line 25-25 ofFIG. 24; and

FIG. 26 is a schematic diagram illustrating the timing of the machine.

Referring now to the drawing, and especially to FIGS. 1 through 5, amachine constructed in accordance with the invention is shown at 10 andhas a frame 12. An operating panel I4 having a plurality of pushbuttonoperating controls 16 is mounted upon the frame at the front of themachine and a data display console I8 having a plurality of countingdisplay devices 20 is mounted above and toward the rear of the frame.

It is the principal function of machine 10 to accept a group of mastercards each of which carries an address and machine informationpertaining to various characteristics of the address. One such card isillustrated in FIG. 4 and is shown in the form of a tab card 22 whichcarries on the face 23 thereof a visible address 24 which, in thisinstance, has been printed upon a portion 26 of the card and machineinformation in the form of punched holes 28, the punched holes 28 beinglocated upon the card at predetermined positions in coded arrangement soas to supply information pertaining to the address in a now well-knownmanner. The machine information could pertain to the name of theaddressee, the principal occupation of the addressee, the variouselements of the geographical address or any other information whichwould serve to classify the visible address in one category or another.The group of master cards is advanced sequentially through the machineso that the machine may select a plurality of individual cards and printthe address appearing on each of the selected cards upon a master tape,such as tape 30 illustrated in FIG. 5. Thus, the machine 10 will composea list of selected addresses and the addresses will be placed insequential arrangement upon a surface 32 of the tape as illustrated byaddresses 34.

The selection of a particular card and the corresponding addressappearing thereon is done on the basis of the particular machineinfonnation carried by the card. For example, the machine may be set upor programmed to choose cards carrying addresses in only one particulargeographical area, in which case the machine will select, from a groupof master cards carrying addresses in a multitude of geographical areas,only the pertinent cards and the list of addresses established upon thetape will be only those addresses from the chosen geographical area.Likewise, the machine may be set up to choose cards based upon any ofthe other characteristics of the addressee or the geographical addresswhich appear in the machine information carried by the card.

At the lefi end of the machine, as seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, there isprovided means for holding the group of master cards and these means areshown in the form of a hopper 40 which will support a stack of cards 42upon the platform 44 of a card feed mechanism 46. The cards are thensequentially advanced from the stack by card advancing means whichinclude the card feed mechanism 46 and a card transport mechanism 48which extends along the length of the path of travel of the cardsthrough the machine, the path of travel of the cards ex tending from thehopper 40 adjacent the left end 50 of the machine to collecting meansincluding a storage compartment 52 adjacent the right end 54 of themachine where the cards are collected and stored pending their removalfrom the machine.

As best seen in FIG. 2, a supply of master tape is held within themachine by means including a supply reel 60 mounted for rotation upon aspindle 62 which is affixed to the frame 12 of the machine. The tape 30follows a path of travel through the machine and is eventually broughtto a takeup mechanism 64 at the tape storage means where the tape iswound onto a takeup reel 66 mounted for rotation upon the frame 12adjacent the right end 54 of the machine where the tape 30 will awaitremoval from the machine.

As best seen in FIG. 6, as well as in FIGS. 1 through 3, the path oftravel of the cards 22 overlaps the path of travel of the tape 30 at animaging station 70 located between the ends of the machine so that atleast the portion 26 of each card upon which the address 24 appears isjuxtaposed with a portion or increment 72 of the tape at imaging meanslocated at the imaging station 70 as the cards and the tape are advancedthrough the machine. Each of the cards 22 is momentarily halted in aprescribed position at the imaging station 70 with the address carriedthereon juxtaposed with a stationary increment '72 of the tape in amanner which will be explained hereinafter.

Sensing means are provided along the path of travel of the cards at asensing station 80 located between the card feed mechanism 46 and theimaging station '70 for sensing the machine information on each advancedmaster card, the sensing means being shown in the form of a photocellcard reader assembly 82 which detects the presence or absence ofapunched hole or punched holes at a particular location or locations inthe cardv Selector means are provided which are responsive to thesensing means as will be explained in greater detail below for selectingonly those cards from which an address will be extracted and foroperating the imaging means only when such a selected card is in theprescribed position at the imaging station to establish upon eachjuxtaposed stationary increment 72 of master tape an image of theaddress carried by each selected card.

The tape 30 is advanced by means on the frame which include anintermittent feed means shown in the form of a feed drum 88 which isoperated each time the imaging means is operated to advance the taperelative to the imaging station 70 through one complete fixed incrementfor each such operation of the imaging means. The card advancing meansand the intermittent tape feed means are engageable with a drive meanswhich includes a main drive motor 90 mounted upon the frame 12 (see FIG.3). The means which achieve the card selection, the operation of theimaging means, and the operation of the intermittent feed means will bemore fully described below.

The imaging station 70, shown in FIGS. 1 through 3 and 6, is illustratedin greater detail in F108. 7, B and 9 wherein it is seen that theimaging means comprises a source of infrared radiation shown in the formof a flash lamp assembly 92 in which flash lamps 94 are mounted below aplaten 95 having a transparent window 96 and above a cooling duct 98 inthe flash lamp assembly housing 100 over which the tape 30 and the cards22 are made to travel. Each card 22 is halted momentarily in theprescribed position at the imaging station 70 by a pair of stop fingers102 carried by arms 104 which are mounted for rocking movement in an upand down direction so that the stop fingers 102 may alternately bebrought into and out of the path of travel of the cards 22.

As best seen in F168. 8 and 9, each arm 104 is affixed to a pin 106which is mounted for rocking motion with respect to a frame portion 108and a helical spring 110 (also see FIG. 3) couples one of the arms 104with a drive pin 112 carried by a drive arm 114 such that both arms 104are driven in an upward and downward direction out of and into the pathof travel of the cards. The arrangement of the drive pin 112 and thehelical spring 110 in coupling the drive arm 114 to an arm 104 allowsadjustment of the location of the arms 104 relative to the drive arm 114by adjustment of the drive pin 112 and thereby permits accurate locationof the stop fingers 102 with respect to the path of the oncoming cards22. The arms are driven upwardly and downwardly in timed relationshipwith the travel of the cards by the drive pin 112 which is mounted uponthe drive arm 114, the drive arm 114 being carried by a rod 116 mountedfor pivotal movement upon the same frame portion 108 and being normallyresiliently biased in a downward direction by a further helical spring118 connected thereto at one end thereof. The drive arm 114 carries atthe other end thereof a cam follower 120 which follows a cam 122 mountedfor rotation with a transverse drive shaft 124 which is coupled with themain drive means by a timing chain 125 (see FIG. 1) so as to rotate intimed relationship with the advance of the cards. Thus it will be seenthat upon rotation of the transverse drive shaft 124 the drive arm 114will be periodically lowered enabling the drive pin 112 to push againstthe corresponding arm 104 and urge the arms 104 and the correspondingstop fingers 102 downwardly to momentarily halt each card as the cardarrives at-the imaging station 70.

At the same time, another cam 126, which is also mounted upon thetransverse drive shaft 124, raises a follower 128 carried by a rockerarm 130 at one end thereof which is also mounted on the frame portion108 at 132 for pivotal move ment relative thereto to lower a roller 134mounted at the other end of the rocker arm 130, the roller 134 engagingan axially adjustable cap 136 fixed to a plunger 138 at one end thereofto lower the plunger 138 which is slideably received in a plungerhousing 140 also affixed to frame portion 108 and to lower a pressurepad assembly 142 affixed to the other end of the plunger 138 so that apressure pad 143 of the assembly 142 wiil press the address-carryingportion 26 of the card 22 downwardly against the tape 30 and will pressboth the card and the tape against the platen 95 and window 96 ofhousing 100. The plunger 138 is resiliently biased upwardly by a helicalspring 144 extending between a shoulder 146 on the plunger and a part ofthe plunger housing 140 so that when the roller 134 carried by therocker arm 130 is rocked upwardly, the plunger 138 will move upwardlyand release the pressure of the pressure pad 143 on the card. Since thecards 22 are halted for only a very short duration, tine adjustments inthe axial distance which must be traversed by the plunger and in thepressure exerted by the pressure pad upon the card may be made by movingthe cap 136 axially with respect to the plunger 138 and the cap may belocked in place by a setscrew 148. The pressure pad 143 is preferablyfabricated of a resiliently deformable material such as an elastomer sothat intimate contact between the card and the tape is assured.

1n the illustrated embodiment of the invention, the cards 22 are formedof porous tab card stock impregnated with a sensitiaer which isvaporizable at approximately I00 C. to C. and the address which appearson the one face 23 thereof is printed in infrared absorbing ink,although the address may be handwritten, stenciled or formed in anyother way which will produce the necessary contrast between the addresscharac ters and the background. The tape has a nonporous oleophobicsurface having resin release characteristics and is trans parent toinfrared radiation so that when the card is pressed against the tape atthe platen 95 with the address-carrying face of the card contiguous withthe tape and the source of infrared radiation is activated by flashingthe flash lamps 94, infrared radiation passes through the window 96 andthe tape 30 and heats the areas of the card corresponding to thecharacters of the address to vaporize from the master card a portion ofthe vaporizable material which lies in the areas corresponding to thecharacters of the address. The material which is thus vaporized from thecard is deposited onto the surface 32 of the juxtaposed increment 72 ofmaster tape to establish a latent image.

Returning now to FIG. 6, it will be seen that the latent images thusestablished upon the tape are converted to visible images constituting avisible list of selected addresses by ap' plying a toner to the surface32 of the tape which carries the latent image of vaporizable materialwhich has been deposited on that surface in areas corresponding to thecharacters of the addresses. The tape is passed through a tonerapplicator means in a manner which will be described in greater detailhereinafter and the toner is made to adhere to the vaporizable materialdeposited on the surface of the tape in areas corresponding to thecharacters of the addresses. The method by which the latent image isformed, the construction of the cards and the tape, and the compositionand application of the toner are all described more fully in anapplication of Ronald I. Morley et al. filed in the U.S. Patent Officeon June 5, 1967, and bearing Ser. No. 643,718.

It is important that the master tape be advanced past the imagingstation in precisely delineated fixed increments of advancement so thatthese fixed increments will be accurately registered with respect to theimaging means and the address carried by each card which is. at theprescribed position in the imaging station. Thus, an intermittent feedmechanism must be provided which will accurately feed the tape acrossthe imaging means. In addition, the tape is relatively delicate and mustbe handled without the placement of undue stress upon the tape whichmight cause tearing of the tape resulting in either complete severanceof the tape or mutilation of the tape which could impede accurateadvancement. The machine of the invention therefore provides a tapehandling system which will accomplish the advancement of the tapethrough the various portions or stations of the machine in an accurateyet delicate fashion. Referring now to FIGS. 6, 10, I1, and 12, as wellas to FIGS. 1 through 3, the feed drum 88 of the intermittent feed meansis seen to carry a plurality of teeth 150 spaced equidistant from oneanother around the periphery of the surface I52 of the drum 88. Theseteeth I50 are arranged to engage corresponding apertures 154 in the tape30 (see FIGS. 5 and 7) so that as the drum 88 rotates through anincrement corresponding to an increment of advancement of the tape, thetape is positively engaged and advanced without slippage between thedrum surface and the tape. In order to preclude any tearing of the tapeby the teeth I50 in the vicinity of the apertures 154 which might occurif there were a tendency for the tape to slip relative to the surface ofthe feed drum, and in order to assure intimate contact between the tapeand the feed drum surface and thereby attain accurately fixed incrementsof advancement of the tape, the feed drum I8 is mounted for rotationupon an arbor I56 which is affixed to the frame [2 of the machine bymachine screws 158 as seen in FIG. II. The arbor [$6 is provided with amanifold I60 having an external connection point [62 through conduit I63and extending over a circumferential portion 164 of the arborcorresponding approximately to the circumferential portion of the drumsurface 152 against which the tape 30 must be intimately held. Aplurality of passage 166 are circumferentially located between the teeth[50 of the drum 88 and pass radially through the drum so as tocommunicate with the manifold 160 as the portion of the drum carryingsuch passages passes over the manifold. A presure below atmosphericpressure is maintained within the manifold [60 by means of a vacuum pumpI68 (see FIG. I) connected to the connection point I62 by a vacuum line170 so that atmospheric pressure will press the tape against the surfaceof the feed drum in the vicinity of those p which communicate with themanifold.

The feed drum 88 is affixed to a drive spindle 172 which, in turn, ismounted for rotation within a bracket [74 affixed to the frame 12 of themachine. Means are provided for intermit' tently rotating the drivespindle 172 and the drum 88 and are shown to be in the form of a driveshaft 176 driven by a drive pulley 178 which, in turn, is engaged by adrive belt 179 that is driven by the main drive mechanism of themachine. An intermittent tape drive mechanism includes the drive shaft176 which carries a crank 180 which engages a Geneva wheel 182 mountedfor rotation within a housing 183 such that the Geneva wheel 182 isrotated intermittently by the continuous rotation of the drive shaft176. An electrically operated clutch 184 releaseably engages the tapedrive mechanism by engaging the Geneva wheel I82 with the drive spindle172 and the drive spindle carries a grooved detent wheel 186 having anumber of grooves 188 corresponding to the number of slots (not shown)in the Geneva wheel I82 and with the number of increments ofintermittent rotation into which one revolution of the feed drum 88 isdivided (in this instance the number being eight). A detent I90 iscarried by an arm I91 pivoted on the bracket I72 and is resilientlyurged into the grooves I88 in the detent wheel I so that the drivespindle 172 is positively retained stationary during each dwell in therotation of the Geneva wheel. Thus, operation of die clutch 184 toengage the Geneva wheel with the drive spindle will rotate the feed drumto feed fixed increments of tape across the imaging station.

In order to preclude any deleterious resistence to advancement of thetape 30 by the feed drum 88, the path of travel of the tape is made tofollow a loop prior to the imaging station 70 so that all tape fed bythe intermittent feed means is supplied to the intermittent feed meansfrom a supply loop 200 (see FIGS. 2 and 6). The supply loop 200 is, inturn, supplied with tape by another portion of the tape advancing meanswhich is shown in the form of a tape feed wheel 202 mounted for rotationupon the frame l2 and driven by an electric drive motor 204 (see FIG. 3)which may be operated completely independently of the operation of themain drive motor which drives the feed drum 88 of the intermittent feedmeans. The length of tape 30 within the supply loop 200 is regulated bysensing means shown in the form of a first photocell 206 and acorresponding lamp 208, and a second photocell 210 and a correspondinglamp 212, each mounted upon the frame 12 such that the beam of lightpassing from each lamp to each corresponding photocell is aimed at anangle to the plane of the paper so that the photocells will not becontacted by the tape 30. As the feed drum 88 draws tape from thestorage loop 200 the loop will become shortened until the beam of lightbetween the first photocell 206 and its corresponding lamp 208 isinterrupted by the tape 30 (which will not transmit the beam of light)as seen at 214 in FIG. 6. Such an interruption of the light beam at 214will actuate the drive motor 204 and rotate the feed wheel 202 until asufficient length of tape is fed into the storage loop 200 to return theloop to its maximum length wherein the tape will interrupt the beam oflight between the second photocell 210 and its corresponding lamp 212 asseen at 216, whereby the drive motor 204 will be stopped. Thus, eachtime the supply loop 200 is depleted by the feed drum 88, the loop 200will be replenished by rotation of the feed wheel 202.

The feed wheel 202 is also provided with eight teeth 218 engaging thecorresponding apertures 154 in the tape 30. These apertures I54 areformed by a punch mechanism 220 which is actuated by the same drivemotor 204 as the feed wheel 202 so that as the feed wheel 202 advancestape into the supply loop 200 the tape will also be drawn across thepunch mechanism 220 and the apertures I54 will be punched at accuratelyspaced intervals in the tape.

As best seen in FIG. IS, the punch mechanism 220 includes a die 222 overwhich the tape 30 is drawn and a reciprocating punch 224 driven by acrank arm 226 which is rocked by a cam 228 affixed to a shafl 230 whichis rotated by a drive belt 232 (see FIG. 3) that is in drivingconnection with a belt drive assembly 234 driven by the drive motor 204through drive belt 235. The feed wheel 202 must advance the tapeintermittently in order to allow the punch mechanism to punch the tapewhen the tape is stationary and also advance the tape in accu ratelydefined increments in order to assure that the punch mechanismaccurately spaces the punched apertures. Thus, the feed wheel 202 isdriven by an eight-point Geneva drive 236 (similar to that which drivesfeed drum 88) and which is driven by a drive belt 238 and drives thefeed wheel 202 through a drive belt 239. Hence, the tape is made tofollow a path which includes another loop, the loop being locatedbetween the punch mechanism 220 and the tape supply reel 60 so that thetape being drawn across the punch mechanism by the feed wheel 202 willbe advanced from a tape supply loop 240 and will not meet withdeleterious resistance. The length of the tape supply loop 240 isregulated by sensing means shown in the form of a first photocell 242and a corresponding lamp 244 and a second photocell 246 and acorresponding lamp 240. As the tape is drawn from the supply loop 240the loop will become shorter until, eventually, the loop will passbeyond the beam of light proiected by the lamp 244 and the photocell 242will actuate a feed roll 250 against which the tape 30 is urged by anidler roll 252 so that tape will be drawn from the tape supply reel 60and fed to the supply loop 240 until the length of the loop once againallows the tape to interrupt the beam of light between the photocell 246and the corresponding lamp 248 and rotation of the feed roll 250 will bestopped. Thus, when a prescribed length of tape is exhausted from thesupply loop 240 the depleted supply loop will be replenished by the feedroll 250. A further photocell 254 and corresponding lamp 256 areprovided above the first photocell 242 and lamp 244 and are located farenough above the photocell 242 and lamp 244 so that the beam of lightbetween the photocell 254 and lamp 256 would ordinarily always beinterrupted by the tape; however, should the tape supply reel 60 bedepleted so that the tape feed roll 250 can no longer replenish thesupply loop 240, the loop will be shortened to a point above the lightbeam projected between lamp 256 and photocell 254. The photocell 254will then sense that there is insufficient tape to continue theoperation of the machine and the machine will be stopped.

Referring now to FIGS. 6, l4, l5, l6 and I7, as well as to FIGS. 1through 3, the tape 30 is passed from the feed drum 88 of theintermittent feed means into a tape storage loop 260 which lies abovethe toner applying means and which serves to collect a predeterminedlength of tape prior to the tape being processed in the toner applyingmeans. The path of travel of the tape thus follows a further loop sothat the feed drum 88 of the intermittent feed means is actuallyisolated between two free tape loops 200 and 260 and the tape which isbeing advanced by the tape feed drum 88 is not subjected to harmfulstresses in portions of the path of travel lying at either side of thetape feed drum which might affect the accurate registration of the tapewith respect to the feed drum and the imaging station. The tape is drawnfrom the storage loop 260 through the toner applying means by anothertape feed wheel 262 which is driven by an independent motor 263 and abelt 265 and is intermittently actuated in response to the length oftape in the tape storage loop 260. Thus, a first photocell 264 andcorresponding lamp 266 are provided adjacent the lower end of the loop260 while a second photocell 268 and corresponding lamp 269 are locatedadjacent the uppermost limit of the loop. When the loop 260 attains theprescribed maximum length, the beam of light between the first photocell264 and its corresponding lamp 266 is interrupted thereby turning onmotor 263 and causing actuation of the tape feed wheel 262 to draw thetape from the loop 260 and through the toner applying means. Uponreaching the upper limit of the loop 260, the tape 30 will interrupt thebeam of light between the second photocell 268 and its correspondinglamp 269 to turn off motor 263 and the tape feed wheel 262 will bestopped. The first and second photocells and their corresponding lampsare located such that the beams of light make an angle with the plane ofthe paper to enable the tape to pass the photocells without contactingthe photocells.

Turning now to FIGS. 14 and 15, the toner applying means is seen toinclude a toner box 270 mounted upon the frame 12 of the machine andproviding a chamber 271 having therein a tape guide 272 about which thetape 30 is passed. A volume of toner 273, which is in the form ofpowdered or particulate material, is maintained in the chamber 271 suchthat the level of toner 273 will always be above the tape 30 as itpasses around the tape guide 272. Located below the tape guide is anagitator 274 which is rotated by a motor 275 and a drive belt 276 inorder to keep the toner 273 in proper position and condition to assurethat the tape is always immersed in the toner for a length of timesufficient to allow the toner to adhere to the material which makes upthe latent image carried by the tape. it is noted that the surface 32 ofthe tape which carries the latent image faces downwardly as it passesover the tape guide 272. As the tape emerges from the toner, but beforethe tape leaves the toner chamber 27l, a small beater 277 (see FIG. 2),which is rotated by a beater motor 278 (see FIG. 14) through a drivebelt 279 and a drive shaft 280, gently beats the opposite surface of thetape to shake excess toner from the tape.

In order to maintain the proper supply of toner in the toner chamber27], a toner supply hopper 281 is located above the toner box 270 andcommunicates with the toner chamber through a gate 282 which is mountedfor rotation at the bottom of the hopper 281 and which is normallyrotated during advancement of the tape 30 through chamber 27 I by ametering motor 283 through a gear assembly 284, a drive chain 285 .and adrive shaft 286 which enters the hopper 281 at the bottom thereof. Suchrotation of the gate 282 will also advance an endless conveyorlike belt287 which is immersed in the toner held in the hopper 281 and whichserves to agitate and facilitate the feeding of accurately meteredamounts of toner through the gate 282 to the chamber 271. The gate 282may also selectively be rotated manually by means of a knob 288. Thesupply of toner within the hopper 28] is replenished by merely removinga lid 289 at the top of the hopper and pouring in a fresh supply oftoner.

The toner box 270 has a top 290 which is affixed to the frame 12 by abracket 29! and which also supports the hopper 28!, and a housing 292which is mounted for vertical sliding movement within a vertical slot293 by means of a holder assembly 294 which includes rollers 295. Thehousing 292 is held in place by a latch 296 (see FIG. 3) which may bereleased by actuating a lever assembly 297 (see FIGS. 2 and 3) to moveconnecting rods 298 to displace the latch 296 out of engagement with theholder assembly 294 and allow the housing 292 to be lowered or evencompletely removed from frame 12 for inspection of maintenance. Anaccess door 299 is provided in the front face of the housing 292 and maybe opened for periodic service and observation of the operation of thetoner box 270 while the housing is in place against the top 290.

The tape 30 with the powdered toner adhered to the material of thelatent image then leaves the toner chamber 27 l and enters anotherhousing 300 wherein the tape is exposed to another source of infraredradiation in the form of a lamp (not shown) which is activated to heatthe powdered toner carried by the material of the latent image and fusethe toner while in place upon the tape to establish integral bodies oftoner, rather than particulate conglomerates, in the form of charactersadhered to the master tape, the characters corresponding to thecharacters of the visible addresses carried by the selected mastercards, but in reverse image.

It will be seen that by the intermittent operation of the toner applyingmeans attained through the employment of the storage loop 260 andsensing means responsive to the condition of the storage loop to operatethe feed wheel 262, the tape is processed through the toner applyingmeans only as required and the second source of infrared radiationwithin housing 300 need only operate intermittently so that anyexcessive buildup of heat within the machine which might arise fromcontinuous operation of the second source of infrared radiation isprecluded.

Because there is a certain amount of inertia in the tape as the tape isadvanced from the supply loop 260 to the toner ap plying means, it hasbeen found advantageous to provide a firm but gentle braking meansbetween the supply loop and the means which advances the tape throughthe toner applying means. Such braking means are found between thesupply loop 260 and the toner applying means in FIGS. 2 and 6 and areshown in greater detail in FIGS. 16 and 17. The braking means comprisean arbor 302 affixed to the frame 12 of the machine 10 and having anouter surface 304 over which the tape 30 is passed. The arbor 302 isprovided with an internal chamber 306 having an external connectionpoint 308 and a plurality of passages 310 extending radially between theportion of the surface 304 contacted by the tape and the internalchamber 306. The vacuum pump 168 (see FIG. 1) is con nected to theexternal connection point 308 by a length of tubing 312 so that thepressure within the chamber 306 is maintained below atmospheric pressureand the tape will be gently pressed against the arbor surface 304. Sucha gentle pressure will establish a small amount of frictional drag uponthe tape to assure that the desired length of tape will be fed from thefeed drum 88 into the storage loop 260 rather than spilling over thearbor 302 toward the toner applying means which might otherwise occur byvirtue of the weight of the length of tape between the arbor and thetoner applying means. In addition, the frictional drag will establish asmall amount of tension within the tape lying beyond the arbor 304,which tension is of some advantage as the tape is passed through thetoner applying means.

Referring now to FIGS. 2, 6, l8, and 19, the tape 30 with the list ofvisible addresses now established on the surface thereof in the form ofcharacters of toner material which has been fused, continues along apath of travel over further roller guides 314 and 316 affixed to theframe 12 of the machine to arrive at the tape storage means. As the tapefollows this segment of the path of travel, the fused toner materialcools so as to establish integral characters of toner material adheredto the surface 32 of the tape 30. The tape storage means maintains agentle tension in the tape so that the tape will not deviate from itsprescribed path of travel and will be properly rolled up onto the tapetalteup reel 66, but does so without placing excessive tension upon thetape. Thus, the talteup reel 66 is affixed to a spindle 320 which ismounted for rotation upon a subframe 321 affixed to the frame 12 of themachine 10 by a separate electric takeup motor assembly 322 whichengages the spindle 320 through a drive belt 324. A takeup roll 326 ismounted for rotation upon a takeup spindle 328 which, in turn, iscarried at one end 329 ofa takeup arm 330 which is mounted upon thesubframe 321 for swinging movement at the other end 332 thereof betweena first position wherein the takeup spindle 328 is located at the lowerend 333 of a slot 334 in the subframe and the takeup roll 326 is locatedbetween roller guide 316 and a further roller guide 335 mounted upon thesubframe 321, and a second position wherein the takeup spindle 328 islocated adjacent the upper end 336 of the slot 334. The takeup arm 330is resiliently biased toward the second position by means of a helicalspring 338 extending between the takeup arm 330 and the frame 12 of themachine 10 (see FIG. 3). Thus, as the tape 30 traverses the path oftravel from the feed wheel 262, the takeup roll 326 will draw the tapeupwardly from between the roller guides 316 and 335 to form an upwardlyextending loop 340. When a sufficient length of tape has beenaccumulated in the loop 340 to allow the takeup spindle 328 to actuatean electric switch 342 located adjacent the uppermost end 336 of theslot 334, the electric switch 342 will turn on the electric takeup motorassembly 322 thereby rotating the takeup reel 66 and drawing the tape 30from the accumulated loop 340 against the bias of the helical spring 338to simultaneously deplete the loop 340 and draw the takeup arm 330downwardly toward the lowermost end 333 of the slot 334. Upon arrival ofthe takeup spindle 328 adjacent the lowermost end 333 of the slot 334the takeup spindle 328 will actuate a second electric switch 344 whichwill then turn off the takeup motor assembly 322 and allow the takeuparm 330 to again start its upward travel. Thus, the tension within thetape may be regulated by the bias of the helical spring 338 and may beheld to a minimum concomitant with proper storage of the tape 30 on thetakeup reel 66. When all of the cards have been processed and all of thetape rolled up onto the takeup reel, the takeup reel may be removed fromthe machine by removal of retainer 346 from spindle 320 with the desiredlist of selected addresses now appearing in reverse image upon a surfaceof the tape in the form of characters of fusible material which may besubsequently heated for transfer from the tape to an envelope or someother mailing piece, or to a mailing label.

Turning now to FIGS. 20, 21 and 22, as well as FIGS. l, 2, and 3, thecard feed mechanism 46 is shown in greater detail and is seen to includea subframe 350 upon which is mounted a transverse shaft 352. A pair ofpusher fingers 354 is carried by the transverse shaft 352, each finger354 being affixed adjacent to one end thereof to the transverse shaftfor movement therewith and carrying at the other end thereof a pickermember 356 which includes a flat platform 358 and a raised shoulder 360rising from the platform 358 adjacent the rear end of the platform. Acard drive means is shown in the form of a drive shaft 362 mounted forrocking motion upon the subframe 350 and selectively coupled to thetransverse shaft 352 by means of an electrically operated pusher clutch364. The drive shaft 362 is continuously rocked to and fro or oscillatedby a drive arm 366 affixed thereto and carrying a cam follower 368 atone end thereof which is urged into driving engagement with a cam 370 bymeans of a helical spring 372 affixed between the other end of the drivearm 366 and the subframe 350. The cam 370 is affixed to a timing shaft374 which is continuously rotated by the main drive motor 90 of themachine 10 through a drive chain 376 (see FIG. 1). Thus, when themachine 10 is operating and when there is a supply of master cards 22stacked within the hopper 40 with the trailing edge of the lowermostcard in the stack 42 resting upon the platforms 358 of the pickermembers 356, the clutch 364 can engage the transverse shaft 352 with thedrive shaft 362 such that the drive shaft will rock the transverse shaftin a clockwise direction as seen in FIG. 22 against the bias of a spring380 which extends between an arm 382 carried by the transverse shaft andthe subframe 350 and which is urged into engagement with a stop 354mounted upon the subframe and thereby move the fingers 354 forward suchthat the shoulders 360 of the picker members 356 will engage thetrailing edge of the lowermost card in the stack and push the cardforward. At the same time, a pair of tamping fingers 386 which are alsofixed to the transverse shaft 352 for movement therewith will engage thetrailing edges of some of the cards lying above the lowermost card andwill align these cards within the stack so that the next card will be inposition to be advanced by the picker members 356. It is noted that eachshoulder 360 is raised from the corresponding platform 358 a distanceequal to no more than the thickness of a single card to assure that onlythe lowermost card is advanced for each cycle of operation of the cardfeed mechanism.

As the lowermost card is advanced the leading edge thereof will bebrought into a plurality of nips established between feed rolls 390carried by a feed shaft 392 and idler rolls 394 cooperating with thefeed rolls 390. The feed shaft 392 is also mounted for rotation upon thesubframe 350 and is continuously rotated by rotation of the timing shaft374 through an intermediate shaft 396 which is coupled at one endthereof to the timing shaft by means of a drive belt 398 and which iscoupled at the other end thereof to the feed shaft 392 by means of adrive belt 399.

The feed rolls 390 advance the card across a platform 400 and throughthe sensing station wherein is located the means which include thephotocell reader assembly 82 which has photocells 40] located thereinadjacent one face of the card and corresponding lamps 402 locatedtherein adjacent the opposite face of the card (the photocells and lampsare shown schematically in FIG. 26). The leading edge of the card thenpasses into the nips established between a pair of feed rolls 404mounted for rotation about an axis lying above the platform 400 and acorresponding pair of idler rolls (not shown) mounted for rotation aboutan axis lying below the platform 400, each idler roll engaging arespective feed roll. The feed rolls 404 are carried by a feed shaft 406mounted for rotation upon the subframe 350 and driven by a drive belt408 which is in driving engagement with the intermediate shaft 396.

Each advanced card is passed by the feed rolls 404 from the platform 400to the card transport mechanism 46 which includes a table 410 (see FIGS.1 and 23) which extends along the length of the path of travel of thecards as they pass through the machine. Mounted above the table 410 is afirst bridge 412 having a pair of side rails 414 affixed to one anotherby means of a plate 416 extending between the rails 414 and a stiffenerbar 418. A plurality of feed shafts 420 are mounted for rotation uponthe rails 414 and carry adjacent each of their ends a feed roll 422fixed for rotation with the feed shafts 420 about axes located above thetable 410. Corresponding idler rolls 424 (see FIGS. 3 and 23) aremounted for rotation about axes lying below the table 410, each idlerroll 424 being resiliently urged upwardly into engagement with acorresponding feed roll 422 to establish a nip there between so that thecards will first engage feed rolls 422L, which are furthest to the left,and then may be sequentially passed from nip to nip to be transportedalong the prescribed path of travel through the machine. Each feed shaft420 is in driving engagement with a neighboring feed shaft 420 throughdrive belts 423 and, among those feed shafts 420 which are mounted forrotation upon the bridge 412, the feed shaft 420R which is furthest tothe right in FIG. 1 is driven by a timing chain 425 which, in turn, isdriven by the main drive motor 90 through a series of drive belts 426,427, and 428 and drive chain 429 (see F168. 1 and 3). As each cardemerges from below the first bridge, the card is brought into theimaging station 70 where the card is juxtaposed with the master tape andis momentarily halted as explained above in connection with thedescription of the imaging station and imaging means.

When a card is momentarily stopped at the imaging station, as seen inFIG. 7, it is no longer engaged with any of the feed rolls 422, but doeslie over a pair of feed belts 430 and is urged into engagement with thefeed belts 430 by a pair of idler roller assemblies 432 (see FIG. 8),each assembly 432 includ ing two idler rollers 434 rotatably mountedupon a carriage 436 which, in turn, is pivotally mounted upon a carriagearm 438, the carriage arm 438 being mounted upon the pin 106 forswinging movement relative thereto and being resiliently biased in adownward direction by virtue of a helical spring 440 such that the idlerrollers 434 are biased against the card which is at the imaging stationand the card is pressed against each of the feed belts 430 underlyingthe idler rollers 434 and the card. The feed belts 430 are movingcontinuously to the right as seen in FIGS. 1 and 7 and, by virtue of africtional engagement with the card at the imaging station, tend to movethe card in that direction. This tendency is defeated when the stopfingers 102 are lowered to stop a card; however, when the stop fingers102 are raised, the card will be frictionally gripped by the feed belts430 and advanced into a pair of nips established by thefirst-encountered pair of feed rolls 450L of a plurality of feed rolls450 mounted for rotation about axes located above the table 410 uponfeed shafts 452 which are in turn rotatably mounted upon a second bridge454 having side rails 456 affixed to one another by means of bars 458.Corresponding idler rolls 459 are mounted for rotation about axes lyingbelow the table 410 and are each resiliently urged upwardly intoengagement with a corresponding feed roll 450. Each of the feed shafts452 is driveably connected to a neighboring feed shaft 452 through adrive belt 460 so that all of the feed shafts rotate concurrently. Thelast of the feed shafts 452R which is located at the right end of thebridge 454 as seen in FIG. 1 is driven by a drive belt 462 which in turnis driven by the drive belt 427 driveably engaged with the main drivemotor 90.

As the cards traverse the path of travel through the machine 10, it ispossible that a card may become jammed somewhere along the path oftravel, for one reason or another, resulting in the disruption of theoperation of the machine. Means are provided in the machine fordetecting such a card jam and for stopping the machine as a result ofdetecting such a jam. As best seen in FIG. 1, an elongate member 470extends along the path of travel of the cards and is located above thetable 410 and above the cards traveling thereon such that the cards passbetween the table 410 and the elongate member 470. Should any card stopsomewhere along the table 410 at a position where it is not intendedthat a card should stop, subsequent cards will bunch up with the stoppedcard until a sufficient thickness of cards is developed to deflect theelongate member 470 upwardly. The upward deflection of the elongatemember 470 is sensed by an electric switch 472 which is coupled to theelongate member 470 and which is actuated by the deflection of theelongate member to cause the machine to be stopped.

In order to provide for the removal of any jammed cards, as well as toprovide access to the table and to other components of the machine forinspection and maintenance, each of the bridges 412 and 454 may beraised in the following manner. The first bridge 412 is mounted to theframe 12 of the machine for pivotal movement about the feed shaft 420R,which itself is mounted for rotation upon the frame 12 at 474 and 476.As best seen in FIG. 23, the first bridge 412 may be raised by grippinghandle 480 affixed to the plate 416 and depressing a lever 482 whichwill pivot a latch 484 out of engagement with a bar 486 which is affixedto the frame 12 of the machine so that the bridge 412 may be raised byswinging the bridge around the pivot provided by the feed shaft 420R. Ina similar manner, the second bridge 454 may be raised by swinging thebridge 454 about the feed shaft 452R which is itself mounted forrotation upon the frame 12 of the machine 10 by brackets 488 and 490.The second bridge 454 carries a handle 494 which operates an overcenterclamp 494 to release the clamp jaws 496 from a bar 498 affixed to theframe 12 of the machine and to allow the bridge 454 to be raised intothe position shown in FIG. 23. It is noted that such a raising of thesecond bridge 454 completely exposes the imaging station 70 since all ofthe mechanism for stopping and pressing the cards against the tape atthe imaging station is carried by the bridge 454.

The machine 10 provides means for the sorting of the cards 22 as theypass along the path of travel from the hopper 40 to the storagecompartment 52 so that as the cards arrive at the storage compartment 52they are channeled into one of four bins 500, 502, 504 and 506 providedwithin the storage compartment (see FIG. 2). Referring now to F108. 24and 25, as well as to F108. 1 through 3, a guideway 508 is providedadjacent one edge of the table 410 and is located so that a portion ofeach card will enter the guideway 508 and traverse the guideway as thecard passes along its prescribed path of travel (also see FIG. 7). Aplurality of thin, flexible bands 510, 512 and 514 are placed within theguideway 508 and overlap one another to divide the guideway into aplurality of channels 520, 522, 524 and 526. As best seen in H6. 24, theupper wall of the guideway 508 is established by a flexible band 530while the lower wall of the guideway 508 is defined by the top 532 ofthe table 410 itself. Between the tabletop and the uppermost band arethe three elongate flexible bands 510, 512 and 514 which divide theguideway into the four channels, channel 520 lying between the uppermostband 530 and the first band 510, channel 522 lying between the firstband 510 and the second band 512, channel 524 lying between the secondband 512 and the third band 514, and channel 526 lying between the thirdband 514 and the tabletop 532.

A sorter mechanism 534 is mounted upon the frame 12 adjacent to theforward ends of the bands and includes a bracket 536 carrying three pullrods 540, 542 and 544 mounted in the bracket 536 for vertical slidingmovement. Each pull rod includes a collar 546 affixed thereto and ahelical spring 548 between the collar and the bracket which biases eachrod in an upward direction. Each pull rod is affixed to a particularband by means of a pair of threaded fasteners 550 which captivate a tab552 extending laterally from each band (see FIG. 25) such that rod 540is attached to band 510, rod 542 is attached to band 512 and rod 544 isattached to band 514 so that normally the pull rods push all thecorresponding bands upwardly and close off all but the lowermost channel526 to an oncoming card which would approach from the left in F10. 24. Apusher plate 556 engages all three of the collars 546 and is mounted forpivotal movement upon the frame 12 of the machine 10. As best seen inFIG. 1, the pusher plate 556 is rocked by a cam shaft 558 which isdriven through drive chain 425 by the main drive system which includesdrive motor and drive belts 426, 427 and 428 and drive chain 429. Thepusher plate 556 rocks once for each cycle of operation of the card feedmechanism 46 and depresses all of the pull rods until a pad 562 locatedat the lower end of each rod comes into contact with a correspondingeleetrornagnet 570, 572 or 57 4 (see-FIG. 25), each electromagnet beingaffixed to the bracket 536. Such downward movement of all of the pullrods will pull all three bands 510, 512 and 514 downwardly against thetop 532 of the table to close off all but the uppermost channel 520 totheoncoming card.

As the card passes the photocell reader assembly 82, the reader assemblywill read the machine information carried by the card and the data thusobtained will be transmitted to the

1. A machine for preparing a list of selected addresses on an elongatemaster tape from a group of master cards each carrying a visible addressand machine information pertaining to the address, a selEcted pluralityof which master cards carry the selected addresses, said machinecomprising: a frame; means for holding the group of master cards; meansfor holding a supply of master tape; an imaging station on the frame;means on the frame for sequentially advancing each of the group ofmaster cards along a path of travel from the master card holding meansto the imaging station; means on the frame for advancing the master tapefrom the master tape supply to the imaging station, the master tapeadvancing means including intermittent tape feed means for sequentiallyproviding stationary fixed increments of the master tape at the imagingstation; imaging means at the imaging station; a sensing station on theframe along said path of travel and located between the master cardholding means and the imaging station; sensing means at the sensingstation for sensing the machine information carried by each advancedmaster card; selector means responsive to the sensing means fordetermining when each one of the plurality of selected master cards ispresent at the sensing station; means on the frame and operated in timedrelationship with the travel of the advanced master cards formomentarily halting at least each selected master card in a prescribedposition at the imaging station with the address carried therebyjuxtaposed with a stationary increment of the master tape at the imagingstation; and means responsive to the travel of said one selected mastercard along said path of travel and operated in timed relationship withthe master card halting means for operating the imaging means and theintermittent tape feed means only when said one selected master card isin said prescribed position to establish upon the juxtaposed incrementof master tape an image of the address carried by the selected mastercard and for operating the intermittent tape feed means to advance themaster tape relative to the imaging station through one complete fixedincrement for each such operation of the imaging means.
 2. The machineof claim 1 wherein said means for operating the imaging means and theintermittent tape feed means include detector means located along thepath of travel of the master cards between the sensing station and theimaging station in predetermined spaced relationship with the sensingstation and the imaging station for detecting the travel of each mastercard past the detector means location; timing means operated in timedrelationship with the travel of the master cards; and means responsiveto the selector means, the detector means and the timing means foroperating the imaging means and the intermittent tape feed means onlywhen said one selected master card has passed through the detector meanslocation and is in said prescribed position.
 3. The machine of claim 2wherein: drive means are provided on the frame; the master cardadvancing means is engageable with the drive means for operation intimed relationship with the drive means; the intermittent tape feedmeans is engageable with the drive means for operation in timedrelationship with the drive means; and the timing means is coupled withthe drive means for operation in timed relationship with the drivemeans.
 4. A machine for preparing a list of selected addresses on anelongate master tape from a group of master tab cards, each cardcarrying a visible address on a portion thereof and machine informationpertaining to the address, the machine information being in the form ofholes located at predetermined positions on the card, a selectedplurality of which master cards carry the selected addresses, saidmachine comprising: a frame; drive means on the frame; means on theframe for holding the group of master cards; means on the frame forholding a supply of master tape; an imaging station on the frame; meanson the frame and engageable with the drive means for sequentiallyadvancing eaCh of the group of master cards along a path of travel fromthe master card holding means to the imaging station; means on the framefor advancing the master tape from the master tape supply to the imagingstation, the master tape advancing means including intermittent tapefeed means engageable with the drive means for sequentially providingstationary fixed increments of the master tape at the imaging station;imaging means at the imaging station; a card reader assembly on theframe at a reader station located between the card advancing means andthe imaging station for sensing the presence or absence of holes atpredetermined locations on each advanced master card; selector means onthe frame and responsive to the card reader assembly for determiningwhen each one of the plurality of selected master cards is present atthe reader station; stop fingers mounted on the frame for movement intimed relationship with the drive means for momentarily halting eachmaster tab card in a prescribed position at the imaging station with theaddress carried thereby juxtaposed with a stationary increment of themaster tape at the imaging station; a pressure pad mounted on the framefor movement in timed relationship with the drive means for pressing atleast the address-carrying portion of the halted master card against thestationary increment of master tape at the imaging station; carddetectors at predetermined locations along the path of travel of themaster cards between the reader station and the imaging station inpredetermined spaced relationship with the reader station and theimaging station for detecting the travel of each master card past thepredetermined locations; timing means coupled with the drive means foroperation in timed relationship with the movement of the stop fingersand the pressure pad; and means responsive to the selector means, thecard detectors and the timing means for operating the imaging means andthe intermittent tape feed means only when said one selected master cardhas passed through the predetermined card detector locations and theaddress-carrying portion thereof is pressed against the stationaryincrement of master tape at the imaging station to establish upon thejuxtaposed increment of master tape an image of the address carried bythe selected master card and for operating the intermittent tape feedmeans to advance the master tape through one complete fixed incrementsubsequent to each such operation of the imaging means.
 5. The machineof claim 1 wherein the image established upon the master tape by theimaging means is a latent image and wherein the machine includes meansfor subsequently converting the latent images so established into avisible list of selected addresses on the master tape.
 6. The machine ofclaim 5 wherein: the address carried by each master card is comprised ofcharacters of infrared absorbing material and the master card carriesvaporizable material in the area of the characters; the master tape istransparent to infrared radiation; the imaging means includes a sourceof infrared radiation; each halted master card is juxtaposed with theincrement of master tape at the imaging station such that the incrementof master tape lies between at least the portion of the master cardcarrying the address and the source of infrared radiation, with thecharacters of the address facing the master tape; the means foroperating the imaging means operates the source of infrared radiation tovaporize from the master card a portion of the vaporizable material fromareas corresponding to the characters of the address and to deposit thevaporizable material onto the surface of the juxtaposed increment ofmaster tape to establish said latent image; and the means for convertingthe latent images to a visible list of selected addresses includes meanson the frame for applying a toner to said surface of the master tape toadhere toner to the vaporizable material Deposited thereon in areascorresponding to the characters of the addresses and means for advancingthe master tape through the toner applying means.
 7. The machine ofclaim 6 wherein the toner is a fusible particulate material and themeans for applying the toner to the surface of the master tape includesmeans for fusing the toner while in place on the master tape toestablish integral characters adhered to the master tape such that themaster tape is provided with a list of selected addresses havingcharacters of fusible material carried upon said surface in reverseimage with respect to the corresponding characters of the visibleaddresses carried by the selected master cards.
 8. The machine of claim4 wherein the image established upon the master tape by the imagingmeans is a latent image and wherein the machine includes means forsubsequently converting the latent images so established into a visiblelist of selected addresses on the master tape.
 9. The machine of claim 8wherein: the address carried by each master card is comprised ofcharacters of infrared absorbing material and the master card carriesvaporizable material in the area of the characters; the master tape istransparent to infrared radiation; the imaging means includes a sourceof infrared radiation; each halted master card is juxtaposed with theincrement of master tape at the imaging station such that the incrementof master tape lies between at least the portion of the master cardcarrying the address and the source of infrared radiation, with thecharacters of the address facing the master tape; the means foroperating the imaging means operates the source of infrared radiation tovaporize from the master card a portion of the vaporizable material fromareas corresponding to the characters of the address and to deposit thevaporizable material onto the surface of the juxtaposed increment ofmaster tape to establish said latent image; and the means for convertingthe latent images to a visible list of selected addresses includes meanson the frame for applying a toner to said surface of the master tape toadhere toner to the vaporizable material deposited thereon in areascorresponding to the characters of the addresses and means for advancingthe master tape through the toner applying means.
 10. The machine ofclaim 9 wherein the toner is a fusible particulate material and themeans for and the toner to the surface of the master tape includes meansfor fusing the toner while in place on the master tape to establishintegral characters adhered to the master tape such that the master tapeis provided with a list of selected addresses having characters offusible material carried upon said surface in reverse image with respectto the corresponding characters of the visible addresses carried by theselected master cards.
 11. The machine of claim 9 wherein: the mastertape follows a prescribed path of travel extending from the master tapesupply to the imaging station and they beyond the imaging station to themeans for applying toner to the master tape, said path of travelincluding a storage loop of prescribed length lying between the imagingmeans and the toner applying means such that the storage loop is fed bysaid intermittent feed means and said prescribed length is comprised ofa plurality of said fixed increments of the master tape; and the meansfor advancing the master tape through the toner applying means liesalong said path of travel beyond the storage loop and includes meansresponsive to the attainment of said prescribed length in the storageloop for advancing the master tape from said storage loop and throughthe toner applying means until the storage loop is depleted.
 12. Themachine of claim 11 wherein the means for advancing the master tapethrough the toner applying means lies along said prescribed path beyondthe toner applying means such that the master tape is drawn through thetoner applying means by said advancing means.
 13. The machine of claim12 including means located along said path of travel between the storageloop and the means for advancing the master tape through the tonerapplying means for braking the tape as the tape passes from the storageloop through the toner applying means.
 14. The machine of claim 13wherein said braking means includes an arbor affixed to said frame andhaving a surface over which the tape passes with a portion of thesurface of the tape opposite to that surface which carries the latentimage contacting an area of the surface of the arbor, said arborincluding at least one passage communicating with the area of the arborsurface contacted by the tape, and means for maintaining a pressurebelow atmospheric pressure within said passage to press the tape againstthe arbor surface at the area of contact therewith and thereby establisha frictional drag upon the tape without marring the latent image. 15.The machine of claim 1 wherein: the master tape follows a prescribedpath of travel extending from the master tape supply to the imagingstation and then beyond the imaging station, the path including a firststorage loop located between the master tape supply and the imagingstation; the intermittent tape feed means lies along said path beyondthe first storage loop such that operation of the intermittent feedmeans will freely draw the master tape from said first storage loop andpass the tape across said imaging station in accurately fixedincrements; and the master tape advancing means includes means foradvancing tape from said master tape supply to said first storage loopin response to the depletion of said first storage loop by theintermittent feed means to replenish said first storage loop.
 16. Themachine of claim 15 wherein the intermittent feed means lies along saidpath beyond the imaging station.
 17. The machine of claim 15 wherein:the master tape advancing means includes means located along said pathof travel between the master tape supply tape said first storage loopfor punching longitudinally spaced apertures in said mister tape inresponse to operation of the master tape advancing means to replenishsaid first storage loop so that said first storage loop is supplied withapertured tape; the intermittent feed means includes a feed mechanismhaving spaced projections for engaging the spaced apertures toaccurately advance said increments of master tape; the path of travelincludes a second storage loop lying between the punching means and themaster tape supply such that operation of the tape advancing means andpunching means will freely draw the master tape from the second storageloop and pass the tape through the punching means to attain accurateuniform spacing between said apertures; and the master tape advancingmeans includes further means for advancing tape from said master tapesupply to said second storage loop in response to the depletion of thesecond storage loop by the tape advancing means and punching means toreplenish said second storage loop.
 18. The machine of claim 16 whereinthe intermittent feed means includes: a feed drum mounted forintermittent rotation and having an external surface, a portion of whichsurface will engage the surface of the master tape opposite to thatsurface which carries the latent image to advance the tape in said fixedincrements; a plurality of passages within the feed drum, eachcommunicating with a portion of the periphery of the external surface ofthe drum; and means for maintaining a pressure below atmosphericpressure within each said passage when the portion of the periphery ofthe external surface communicating with said passage engages the surfaceof the tape.
 19. The machine of claim 6 wherein the master tape followsa prescribed path of travel extending from the master tape supply to theimaging station, then beyond the imaging station to the means forapplying toner to the master tape, and then beyond the toner applyingmeAns, the machine including takeup means for collecting the master tapewith the list of addresses thereon, said takeup means comprising: atakeup reel mounted for rotation upon the frame and receiving the mastertape; an arm mounted on the frame for movement between a first positionand a second position; means carried by said arm for intercepting thepath of travel of the tape adjacent the first position of the arm andahead of the takeup reel; means resiliently biasing the arm toward thesecond position so that, with the takeup reel stationary, the tapeadvanced beyond the toner applying means will be drawn toward the secondposition by the resilient bias of the arm to establish a loop in saidpath of travel between said first and second positions; means operatingin response to the arrival of the arm at the second position forrotating the takeup reel and drawing the tape in said loop and the armtoward the first position against the bias of the arm to deplete saidloop by winding the tape therefrom onto said takeup reel; and meansoperating in response to the depletion of said loop and the arrival ofthe arm at the first position to stop the rotation of the takeup reel.20. In a machine in which a relatively delicate elongate tape isadvanced from a tape supply along a path of travel passing through themachine to a tape storage means, a takeup mechanism comprising: a frame;a takeup reel mounted for rotation upon the frame and for receiving thetape; an arm mounted on the frame for movement between a first positionand a second position; means carried by said arm for intercepting thepath of travel of the tape adjacent the first position of the arm andahead of the takeup reel; means resiliently biasing the arm toward thesecond position so that, with the takeup reel stationary, the tapeadvanced to the takeup mechanism will be drawn toward the secondposition by the resilient bias of the arm to establish a loop in saidpath of travel between said first and second positions; means operatingin response to the arrival of the arm at the second position forrotating the takeup reel and drawing the tape in said loop and the armtoward the first position against the bias of the arm to deplete saidloop by winding the tape therefrom onto said takeup reel; and meansoperating in response to the depletion of said loop and the arrival ofthe arm at the first position to stop the rotation of the takeup reel.21. The machine of claim 1 wherein the imaging means operates through acycle of predetermined duration and the master card advancing meansincludes: card drive means operating continuously through repeatingcycles of operation, the duration of each cycle of operation of the carddrive means being less than the predetermined duration of the cycle ofoperation of the imaging means; card feed means engageable with the carddrive means for advancing one card from the card holding means duringeach cycle of operation of the card drive means; and means for engagingthe card feed means with the card drive means to advance each card andfor disengaging the card feed means from the card drive means inresponse to the selector means for one complete cycle of operation ofthe card drive means immediately following the advancement of one ofsaid selected cards such that no card is advanced during said onecomplete cycle and the duration of the cycle of operation of the carddrive means during which no card is advanced will allow the imagingmeans to complete said cycle of predetermined duration prior to thedelivery of the next consecutive selected master card to the prescribedposition at the imaging station.
 22. The machine of claim 21 wherein:the card holding means hold said group of cards in a generally verticalstack; the card drive means include a drive shaft mounted on the framefor oscillating movement; the card feed means include a transverse shaftmounted on the framE for oscillating movement and fingers mounted forrocking movement below the stack, each finger having a member forengaging the lowermost card in the stack and advancing the engaged cardfrom the stack during said rocking movement; and the engaging anddisengaging means include a clutch between said drive shaft and saidtransverse shaft and means for selectively operating the clutch in timedrelationship with the oscillation of the drive shaft.
 23. The machine ofclaim 4 wherein the imaging means operates through a cycle ofpredetermined duration and the master card advancing means includes:card drive means coupled with the drive means for operating continuouslythrough repeating cycles of operation, the duration of each cycle ofoperation of the card drive means being less than the predeterminedduration of the cycle of operation of the imaging means; card feed meansengageable with the card drive means for advancing one card from thecard holding means during each cycle of operation of the card drivemeans; and means for engaging the card feed means with the card drivemeans to advance each card and for disengaging the card feed means fromthe card drive means in response to the selector means for one completecycle of operation of the card drive means immediately following theadvancement of one of said selected cards such that no card is advancedduring said one complete cycle and the duration of the cycle ofoperation of the card drive means during which no card is advanced willallow the imaging means to complete said cycle of predetermined durationprior to the delivery of the next consecutive selected master card tothe prescribed position at the imaging station.
 24. The machine of claim23 wherein: the card holding means hold said group of cards in agenerally vertical stack; the card drive means include a drive shaftmounted on the frame for oscillating movement; the card feed meansinclude a transverse shaft mounted on the frame for oscillating movementand fingers mounted for rocking movement below the stack each fingerhaving a member for engaging the lowermost card in the stack andadvancing the engaged card from the stack during said rocking movement;and the engaging and disengaging means include a clutch between saiddrive shaft and said transverse shaft and means for selectivelyoperating the clutch in timed relationship with the oscillation of thedrive shaft.
 25. The machine of claim 6 wherein the imaging meansoperates through a cycle of predetermined duration and the master cardadvancing means includes: card drive means operating continuouslythrough repeating cycles of operation, the duration of each cycle ofoperation of the card drive means being less than the predeterminedduration of the cycle of operation of the imaging means; card feed meansfor advancing one card from the card holding means during each cycle ofoperation of the card drive means; and means for engaging the card feedmeans with the card drive means to advance each card and for disengagingthe card feed means from the card drive means in response to theselector means for one complete cycle of operation of the drive meansimmediately following the advancement of one of said selected cards suchthat no card is advanced during said one complete cycle and the durationof the cycle of operation of the card drive means during which no cardis advanced will allow the imaging means to complete said cycle ofpredetermined duration prior to the delivery of the next consecutiveselected master card to the prescribed position at the imaging station.26. The machine of claim 25 wherein: the card holding means hold drivegroup of cards in a generally vertical stack; operation, the card drivemeans include a drive shaft mounted on the frame for oscillatingmovement; the card feed means include a transverse shaft mounted on theframe for oscillating movement and fingers mounted for rocking movementbelow the stack, eaCh finger having a member for engaging the lowermostcard in the stack and advancing the engaged card from the stack duringsaid rocking movement; and the engaging and disengaging means include aclutch between said drive shaft and said transverse shaft and means forselectively operating the clutch in timed relationship with theoscillation of the drive shaft.
 27. The machine of claim 9 wherein theimaging means operates through a cycle of predetermined duration and themaster card advancing means includes: card drive means coupled with thedrive means for operating continuously through repeating cycles ofoperation the duration of each cycle of operation of the card drivemeans being less than the predetermined duration of the cycle ofoperation of the imaging means; card feed means engageable with the carddrive means for advancing one card from the card holding means duringeach cycle of operation of the card drive means: and means for engagingthe card feed means with the card drive means to advance each card andfor disengaging the card feed means from the card drive means inresponse to the selector means for one complete cycle of operation ofthe card drive means immediately following the advancement of one ofsaid selected cards such that no card is advanced during said onecomplete cycle and the duration of the cycle of operation of the carddrive means during which no card is advanced will allow the imagingmeans to complete said cycle of predetermined duration prior to thedelivery of the next consecutive selected master card to the prescribedposition at the imaging station.
 28. The machine of claim 27 wherein:the card holding means hold said group of cards in a generally verticalstack; the card drive means include a drive shaft mounted on the framefor oscillating movement; the card feed means include a transverse shaftmounted on the frame for oscillating movement and fingers mounted forrocking movement below the stack, each finger having a member forengaging the lowermost card in the stack and advancing the engaged cardfrom the stack during said rocking movement; and the engaging anddisengaging means include a clutch between said drive shaft and saidtransverse shaft and means for selectively operating the clutch in timedrelationship with the oscillation of the drive shaft.
 29. The machine ofclaim 1 wherein: the advanced master cards follow a prescribed path fromthe master card holding means to a sensing station, then to the imagingstation and then beyond the imaging station to a collecting means, thecollecting means including a plurality of longitudinally spaced bins,the machine including means operating in response to the sensing meansfor sorting said advanced master cards for advancement into one oranother of said bins, said sorting means comprising: a guidewayextending along the path of travel of the cards from a leading endadjacent to the card holding means to a trailing end terminatingadjacent the collecting means; a plurality of overlapping elongate thinflexible bands, each extending along the guideway from a leading endadjacent to the card holding means to a trailing end terminatingadjacent a prescribed bin and dividing the guideway into a pluraLity ofchannels between adjacent bands and between the bands and the guideway,all but one of said channels being normally closed to an oncoming cardand each channel communicating with a corresponding bin; means mountedadjacent to the path of travel of the cards and engaging said bands forflexing the leading ends of all of said bands relative to the guidewayto close all but another of said channels as each card is advanced fromthe card holding means through the sensing station toward the leadingend of the guideway; and means operating in response to the sensingmeans for either releasing the flexed leading ends of all of said bandsor retaining flexed only the end of a selected band or bands to holdopen only one parTicular selected channel into which the card at thesensing station will be passed, said releasing or retaining meansoperating to release said retained band or bands after movement of saidcard from the sensing station and into the selected channel.
 30. Themachine of claim 29 wherein said flexing means include mechanical meansfor drawing said bands into the flexed position and said releasing orretaining means include selectively operated electromagnetic means forretaining said band or bands.
 31. In a machine wherein each of a groupof cards carrying machine information is sequentially advanced from acard holding means along a path of travel to a sensing means and then toa collecting means, the collecting means including a plurality oflongitudinally spaced bins, the machine including means operating inresponse to the sensing means for sorting said advanced cards foradvancement into one or another of said bins, said sorting meanscomprising: a guideway extending along the path of travel of the cardsfrom a leading end adjacent to the card holding means to a trailing endterminating adjacent the collecting means; a plurality of overlappingelongate thin flexible bands, each extending along the guideway from aleading end adjacent to the sensing means to a trailing end terminatingadjacent a prescribed bin and dividing the guideway into a plurality ofchannels between adjacent bands and between the bands and the guideway,all but one of said channels being normally closed to an oncoming cardand each channel communicating with a corresponding bin; means mountedadjacent to the path of travel of the cards and engaging said bands forflexing the leading ends of all of said bands relative to the guidewayto close all but another of said channels as each card is advanced fromthe card holding means through the sensing station toward the leadingend of the guideway; and means operating in response to the sensingmeans for either releasing the flexed leading ends of all of said bandsor retaining flexed only the end of a selected band or bands to holdopen only one particular selected channel into which the card at thesensing station will be passed, said releasing or retaining meansoperating to release said retained band or bands after movement of saidcard from the sensing means and into the selected channel.
 32. Themachine of claim 31 wherein said flexing means include mechanical meansfor drawing said bands into the flexed position and said releasing orretaining means include selectively operated electromagnetic means forretaining said band or bands in said flexed position.
 33. The machine ofclaim 1 wherein the advanced master cards travel in a plane and follow aprescribed path of travel from the master card holding means to theimaging station and then beyond the imaging station and the master cardadvancing means include: a pluraLity of cooperating pairs of drive andidler rolls mounted along the path of travel of the cards for rotationin planes perpendicular to the plane in which the cards travel andparallel to the direction of travel, the axis of rotation of one of therolls in each pair being located on one side of said plane of travel andthe axis of rotation of the other of said rolls in each pair beinglocated on the other side of said rolls in each pair being located onthe other side of said plane of travel; means on said frame and engagedwith said drive rolls for driving said drive rolls; and means on saidframe for allowing selective displacement of at least some of the axesof rotation located on one side of the plane of travel away from thecorresponding axes of rotation located on the other side of the plane oftravel to selectively gain open access to the path of travel withoutrequiring disengagement of the driving means from the drive rolls. 34.The machine of claim 33 including: a table lying in the plane of travelof the cards; the idler rolls being mounted for rotation about axes Ofrotation lying below the table; a bridge extending over the table andbeing mounted for swinging movement relative to the table; the driverolls being mounted for rotation on the bridge; means for holding thebridge in place relative to the table to engage corresponding drive andidler rolls at the plane of travel of the cards; and means forselectively releasing said holding means to selectively swing the bridgeaway from the table and thereby gain open access to said table.
 35. Themachine of claim 34 wherein the bridge is mounted on said frame adjacentone end of the bridge for pivotal movement about an axis coinciding withthe axis of rotation of at least one of said drive rolls and the meansfor driving said drive rolls are engaged with that one of said driverolls such that displacement of the bridge relative to the table willnot require disengagement of the drive roll drive means.
 36. In amachine which cards are advanced sequentially from a group of cards heldin card holding means and the cards travel in a plane and follow aprescribed path of travel from the card holding means through themachine, card advancing means including: a plurality of cooperatingpairs of drive and idler rolls mounted along the path of travel of thecards for rotation in planes perpendicular to the plane in which thecards travel and parallel to the direction of travel, the axis ofrotation of one of the rolls in each pair located on one side of saidplane of travel and the axis of rotation of the other of said rolls ineach pair located on the other side of the plane of travel; means on theframe and engaged with said drive rolls for driving said drive rolls;and means on said frame for allowing selective displacement of at leastsome of the axes of rotation located on one side of the plane of travelaway from the corresponding axis of rotation located on the other sideof the plane of travel to selectively gain open access to the path oftravel without requiring disengagement of the driving means from thedrive rolls.
 37. The machine of claim 36 including: a table lying in theplane of travel of the cards; the idler rolls being mounted for rotationabout axes lying below the table; a bridge extending over the table andbeing mounted for swinging movement relative to the table; the driverolls being mounted for rotation upon the bridge; means for holding thebridge in place relative to the table to engage corresponding drive andidler rolls at the plane of travel of the cards; and means forselectively releasing said holding means to selectively swing the bridgeaway from the table and thereby gain open access to said table.
 38. Themachine of claim 37 wherein the bridge is mounted upon said frameadjacent one end of the bridge for pivotal movement about an axiscoinciding with the axis of rotation of at least one of said drive rollsand the means for driving said drive rolls are engaged with that one ofsaid drive rolls such that displacement of the bridge relative to thetable will not require disengagement of the drive roll drive means.